‘I need to be home': Pakistanis among stranded Heathrow passengers separated from loved ones
LONDON: Thousands of travelers stranded by a huge fire near London's Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, scrambled to find ways to get home and reunite with their families on Friday as they faced what could be days of disruptions.
Heathrow was shut as around 70 firefighters sought to put down the blaze at a nearby electrical substation in the west of London that knocked out power at the airport as well as the area's back-up power system.
Airlines advised passengers not to travel to the airport, and Britain's energy minister Ed Miliband warned it would take time to recover from the 'catastrophic' fire.
Waiting at central London's Paddington station, which normally offers express train service to Heathrow, US traveler Tyler Prieb contacted airlines Friday morning, hoping to find a new flight back to his home in Nashville, Tennessee.
'I'm sure everybody is going to need a new flight somewhere, somehow. So I'm just trying to get ahead of that the best I can,' said Prieb, 36, who was in London for work and to see friends.
'Hopefully, it will just take me an extra day to get back to my wife and my daughter. And they are probably wishing I would be home already,' he said.
In the meantime, Prieb said he had asked OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT for ways to pass the time.
'I thought maybe I'd go explore another city somewhere,' he said.
Heathrow was due to handle 1,351 flights during the day, flying up to 291,000 passengers.
A Heathrow spokesperson told Reuters in an email that there was no clarity on when power would be restored, and they expected significant disruption over the coming days.
John Moriarty, another US traveler, listened attentively to his phone's speaker, hoping to get through to his airline's customer service helpline.
The 75-year-old said he was anxious to return to Boston to see his daughter, who had traveled from New York to visit him.
'All the lines are busy, so I might be here another day. Not the worst thing in the world. (London) is my favorite city, but I need to be home,' 75-year-old John Moriarty said.
Travel experts said the disruption would extend far beyond Heathrow, and global flight schedules will be affected more broadly, as many aircraft will now be out of position.
Mahmoud Ali, 40, an employee of Domino's Pizza in London, had been due to fly to his native Pakistan to be with his wife and children, who he has not seen since last summer.
'They are waiting for me. I'm trying to call the airline and Heathrow (to find out) what time the situation will be resolved,' he said.
The fire has also forced the rerouting of incoming flights, leaving passengers unsure of where they will land.
Some flights from the United States were turning around mid-air and returning to their point of departure.
Adrian Spender, who works at British retailer Tesco, said in a post on X that he was on an Airbus A380 that had been headed for Heathrow.
'#Heathrow no idea where we are going yet. Currently over Austria,' he wrote.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
24-05-2025
- Leaders
Diriyah Named Among Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025
The British travel platform Wanderlust has selected Diriyah as one of the Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025, according to the Saudi Press Agency. This remarkable recognition was driven by the successful cooperation between the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. Both entities have submitted a comprehensive nomination featuring Diriyah's extraordinary initiatives in environmental, cultural, and tourism sustainability. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin stated that this recognition reflects Saudi Arabia's dedication to ensuring sustainability in tourism. 'This recognition stands as a testament to our strategy of empowering local partners and showcasing national destinations in international markets,' Hamidaddin added. He also noted that this achievement further strengthens the Kingdom's position on the global tourism map as the fastest-growing destination in the world. 'This international recognition highlights Diriyah's role as the cradle of the Saudi state and our dedication to preserving its heritage while applying the highest environmental and cultural sustainability standards,' Chief Executive Officer of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority Jerry Inzerillo said. Promisingly, this selection represents a living proof of Saudi Arabia's growing global presence in tourism. In line with the Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Tourism Authority has been supporting its partners across the tourism ecosystem to meet ambitious national objectives. In 2024, the Kingdom welcomed nearly 116 million visitors, and the authorities are still making bold strides to reach the goal of hosting 150 million visitors by 2030. Related Topics: Diriyah Company Boosts Saudi Tourism at Arabian Travel Market Layali Diriyah: Immersive Cultural and Culinary Experiences Diriyah Company Boosts Sports Development with Saudi Tennis Federation Short link : Post Views: 1
Saudi Gazette
24-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia receives 891,000 pilgrims for Hajj as authorities warn against visit visa violations
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The number of international pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia for Hajj 1446H has reached 890,883 as of the end of Friday, according to the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). The total reflects ongoing momentum as pilgrims continue to enter the Kingdom through airports, land crossings, and seaports in preparation for the annual pilgrimage. Jawazat reported that 846,415 pilgrims have arrived via international airports, 41,646 through land border crossings, and 2,822 via seaports. The directorate reaffirmed that all necessary resources have been mobilized to facilitate the entry process, including advanced technical systems and multilingual staff at all major ports of entry. Among Friday's arrivals was the first Hajj flight from the United Kingdom, which landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with 142 pilgrims on board. The British Consul General in Jeddah, Cecille El-Bilidy, welcomed the group, along with officials from Jeddah Airports Company and various government and operational agencies. Jeddah Airports Company confirmed its full operational readiness for Hajj 1446, highlighting preparations across three major terminals: Terminal 1, the Northern Terminal, and the dedicated Hajj and Umrah Complex. Facilities include 558 immigration counters, 407 baggage check-in stations, 100 passenger boarding bridges, 81 customs inspection devices, 67 luggage belts, and 259 bus parking bays — part of a comprehensive plan to facilitate the arrival experience. As the number of pilgrims grows, the Ministry of Interior has issued a renewed warning to individuals attempting to perform Hajj without proper authorization. The ministry clarified that all types of visit visas — including those for tourism, business, and family visits — do not entitle holders to perform Hajj. Only officially issued Hajj visas permit entry into the holy sites during the season. The ministry emphasized that any individual on a visit visa who enters or remains in Makkah or the holy sites between Dhu Al-Qi'dah 1 and Dhu Al-Hijjah 14 will be subject to a fine of up to SR20,000. Offenders will also face deportation and a 10-year ban from re-entering the Kingdom. Authorities urged all citizens, residents, and visitors to adhere strictly to Hajj regulations, which are designed to ensure the safety and security of all pilgrims. The ministry also encouraged the public to report violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 elsewhere in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia continues to scale up its operations to receive pilgrims from around the world.
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
British man breaks record for fastest run across Australia
SYDNEY — A British ultra-endurance athlete has broken the world record for running across the width of Australia, after a grueling 35-day journey. William Goodge, 31, started the 3,800km (2,361 miles) run from Cottesloe Beach in Perth on 15 April, and finished on Monday afternoon at Australia's iconic Bondi Beach, his father by his side. Originally from Bedfordshire in England, Goodge ran the equivalent of two-and-a-half marathons — about 100km — every day. He started running marathons after his mother, Amanda, died from cancer in 2018, with this journey raising money for cancer charities in the UK, US and Australia. The previous world record for running across Australia was held by Chris Turnbull, who managed the feat in 39 days in 2023. The year before, Australian electrician Nedd Brockmann ran the same route in 47 days, raising millions for charity. Speaking to local media after he crossed the finish line, Goodge said the run was "like a revolving nightmare that wouldn't end". "The first nine days were extremely you have to tell your body and mind that even though you're struggling, you're going to persevere, and you're going to get through it," he told the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH). Moments after crossing the finish line, Goodge placed a bunch of flowers on Bondi's famous shoreline in memory of his late mother. "She was the most special person in my life," he told the Guardian Australia, adding, "she would be proud of everything I've done — she'd also be concerned". Along the way toenails have fallen off, his feet began rotting and he sometimes hallucinated due to broken sleep caused by pain in his bones. Goodge said thinking about how his mother battled cancer was crucial during his journey, and helped him overlook his own suffering. "So in the moments where it's tough, I'll think back to those times, I think about the woman she was, and how she handled herself, and how she supported me," he told the SMH. "I feel like she's there with me a lot of the time." During the race, he says he saw almost all of Australia's famous animals — though most were dead on the road — and much of its unique countryside. On Goodge's website about the run, he also thanked Turnbull for sharing his knowledge and experience on how to tackle the journey. Goodge also holds the record for the fastest British man to run across the US, crossing from Los Angeles to New York in 55 days. — BBC
